Monthly Column

Dear Members and Friends of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church,

 

As I was on vacation this past Sunday in Aurora, Colorado, I was able to listen to a sermon by the Rev. Brian Wolfmueller, pastor of Hope Lutheran Church (who can also, coincidentally, be heard weekly on the internet at Table Talk Radio). In that sermon, Pr. Wolfmueller emphasized the fact that the latter half of Ephesians 6 is all about standing. It is not about advancing nor about retreating. And that is curious isn’t it? For is not that famous second half of the chapter all about being outfitted as a soldier? Here is the pertinent section: “13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak” (ESV).

 

Now you would think that being so outfitted, we would be set to go, to advance, to venture forth, to explore, even conquer. But what do verses 13 and 14 tell us? We are so equipped simply so we are able to stand, to stand firm, to withstand all that comes against us, from day to day. What is that? Well, verse 11 has the answer: The schemes of the devil. How overwhelming is that!?! Just in order not to fall to the devil’s schemes as we live in these end times we must, as Christians, be outfitted with the full armor of God: The belt of truth; the breastplate of righteousness; the shoes of the gospel of peace; the shield of faith; the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit. Without these things, we fall. Without these things, we fail.

 

Those schemes? Financial hardship. Loss of employment. Loss of friendship. Disease. Death. In short, the schemes of the devil are anything that would cause us to stop trusting in our Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior from sin, death and the power of the devil! When we pray the Sixth Petition of the Lord’s Prayer, “Lead us not into temptation,” what are we doing but praying that we would be guarded and kept so that we would not be lead by the devil into false belief, or even despair, which Luther called a “great shame” and even a“vice”!

 

But is it enough simply to be able to stand? Those of you who have been bound to a hospital bed for days or even weeks or months would certainly say “Yes!” For being able to stand, what are you able to do, but to move? To work? To serve? But of course the Apostle Paul is talking in Ephesians about a spiritual standing, a standing in which we can exist within this world, in spite of the devil, and through faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, love those around us with our service to them. And that is enough.

 

Your Servant in Christ,

 

Pastor Strawn